Building element

ABSTRACT

According to the present invention a building element comprises a generally planar panel defining at least one substantially straight side end and a first connecting lug extending co-planarly to the panel from the substantially straight side end. The first connecting lug extends along only a portion of said straight side end, and a slot is provided in the form of an elongate aperture extending partly into the first connecting lug or partly into the panel adjacent to the first connecting lug. The slot extends adjacent to the straight side end and parallel thereto, and the slot is open at one end thereof. The arrangement is such that two building elements with slots being open at opposite ends can be attached to each other by positioning the panels at right angles to each other and sliding the slots over each other in a direction along the straight side ends in order that the slots engage the elements. The invention also relates to structures formed by using the above elements.

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

This invention relates to building elements. In one embodiment of theinvention it relates to building elements suitable for building scaleddown structures such as, for example toy castles.

Many different kinds of building elements exist which are suitable forbuilding scaled down structures. Many of these elements includeintricate attachment formations for attaching the building elements toeach other which make the building elements expensive. Some of theattachment formations are unattractive and very much visual once thebuilding elements have been attached to each other which then detractsfrom the appearance of the scaled down structure.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the present invention to provide an alternativebuilding element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention a building element comprises agenerally planar panel defining at least one substantially straight sideend; a first connecting lug extending co-planarly to the panel from thesubstantially straight side end, the first connecting lug extendingalong only a portion of said straight side end; and a slot in the formof an elongate aperture extending partly into the first connecting lugor partly into the panel adjacent to the first connecting lug the slotextending adjacent to the straight side end and parallel thereto, andthe slot being open at one end thereof; the arrangement being such thattwo building elements with slots being open at opposite ends can beattached to each other by positioning the panels at right angles to eachother and sliding the slots over each other in a direction along thestraight side ends in order that the slots engage the elements.

In one embodiment of the invention the slot may extend into the firstconnecting lug and preferably it is open at the operatively upper endthereof. In another embodiment of the invention the slot extends intothe panel and preferably it is open at the operatively lower endthereof.

In one embodiment of the invention the panel defines an operativelylower end which is substantially straight and which extendssubstantially at right angles from the straight side end.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the panel is generallyrectangular defining an operatively lower end, an operatively upper endopposite to the lower end and two opposite side ends extending betweenthe upper and lower ends.

The first connecting lug is preferably located on a side end towards anoperatively lower end defined by the panel and preferably the firstconnecting lug is provided with such a configuration that in use itgives the appearance of a buttress.

The first connecting lug may be planar and wedged shaped widening awayfrom the panel as the first connecting lug extends towards the saidoperatively lower end of the panel. In a preferred embodiment of theinvention the first connecting lug may be generally triangularly shapedwith two sides of the triangle meeting each other at right angles andwith one of said sides extending along the side end of the panel and theother said side extending in line with lower end of the panel.

In one embodiment of the invention wherein the panel defines twoopposite side ends, first connecting lugs may be provided on both sideends.

The element may also include a second connecting lug extendingco-planarly to the panel from the substantially straight side end of thepanel and spaced apart from the first connecting lug along the said sideend; and a slot in the form of an elongate aperture may be provided toextend partly into the second connecting lug adjacent to the straightside end and parallel thereto, the slot being open at one end thereof.The slot extending into the first connecting lug or partly into thepanel adjacent to the first connecting lug and the slot extending intothe second connecting lug may be provided in order that the open endsface in the same direction. Preferably however, the slot is provided toextend into the first connecting lug and this slot and the slotextending into the second connecting lug are provided in order that theyface in opposite directions and preferably they face towards each other.

The second connecting lug may be provided with a configuration in use togive the appearance of a gargoyle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the panel is generallyrectangular defining an operatively lower end, an operatively upper endopposite to the lower end and two opposite side ends extending betweenthe upper and lower ends; and the first connecting lug is preferablylocated on a side end towards an operatively lower end defined by thepanel; and the second connecting lug is located at the operatively upperend defined by the panel.

In one embodiment of the invention a first connecting lug may beprovided on each side end and a second connecting lug may be provided oneach side end.

The panel may also include an additional slot in the form of elongateaperture extending into the panel adjacent to the straight side end andparallel thereto at the operatively upper end thereof and opposite tothe first connecting lug, this slot opening into an operatively upperend defined by the panel.

The invention also relates to a set of elements comprising at least onefirst building element in the form of a generally planar panel definingat least one substantially straight side end; a first connecting lugextending co-planarly to the panel from the substantially straight sideend, the first connecting lug extending along only a portion of saidstraight side end; and a slot in the form of an elongate apertureextending partly into the first connecting lug or partly into the paneladjacent to the first connecting lug, the slot extending adjacent to thestraight side end and parallel thereto, and the slot being open at oneend thereof; and the set of elements further comprising at least onesecond element defining a panel which includes a slot therein in theform of an elongate aperture which is open at one end but the open endfacing in a direction opposite to the direction in which the slot in thefirst building element faces to allow the said first building element tobe attached to the said second element by positioning said elements atright angles to each other and sliding the slots over each other in adirection along the straight side end of the first building element inorder that the slots engage the elements.

The at least one second element may comprise a building element asdescribed hereinabove. Accordingly the at least one second element maycomprise a building element comprising a generally planar panel definingat least one substantially straight side end; a first connecting lugextending co-planarly to the panel from the substantially straight sideend, the first connecting lug extending along only a portion of saidstraight side end; and a slot in the form of an elongate apertureextending partly into the first connecting lug or partly into the paneladjacent to the first connecting lug, the slot extending adjacent to thestraight side end and parallel thereto, and the slot being open at oneend thereof.

Preferably, the slots in the first and second building elements are ofsuch lengths that they allow the first connecting lugs on the first andsecond elements to fully overlap to provide them at the same height whenthe elements are in use attached to each other.

Preferably the panel of each of the at least one first building elementand at least one second element is generally rectangular defining anoperatively lower end, an operatively upper end opposite to the lowerend and two opposite side ends extending between the upper and lowerends.

Preferably the first connecting lug of each of the first buildingelement and second element is located at the operatively lower enddefined by the panel and preferably the first connecting lug is providedwith such a configuration that in use it gives the appearance of abuttress.

The first connecting lug of each of the first building element andsecond element may be planar and wedged shaped widening away from thepanel as the first connecting lug extends towards the said operativelylower end of the panel. In a preferred embodiment of the invention thefirst connecting lug may be generally triangularly shaped with two sidesof the triangle meeting each other at right angles and with one of saidsides extending along the side end of the panel and the other said sideextending in line with lower end of the panel.

In one embodiment of the invention wherein the panel defines twoopposite side ends, first connecting lugs may be provided on both sideends.

The first element may also include a second connecting lug extendingco-planarly to the panel from the substantially straight side end of thepanel and spaced apart from the first connecting lug along the said sideend; and a slot in the form of an elongate aperture extending partlyinto the second connecting lug adjacent to the straight side end andparallel thereto, the slot being open at one end thereof; and the secondelement may include an additional slot in the form of an elongateaperture extending adjacent to the straight side end and parallelthereto, the additional slot being open at one end thereof; and thearrangement being such that when the panels of the first and secondelements are positioned at right angles to each other the slot in thesecond connecting lug on the first element and the additional slot insecond element are slid over each other in a direction along thestraight side ends to engage the second connecting lug to the secondelement.

The second connecting lug may be provided with a configuration in use togive the appearance of a gargoyle.

The additional slot of the second element may be provided in a secondconnecting lug extending co-planarly to the panel from the substantiallystraight side end of the panel and spaced apart from the firstconnecting lug along the said side end. Alternatively and preferably theadditional slot of the second element may be provided directly into thepanel of that element.

The slots in the first connecting lug and second connecting lug locatedat the same side end of the first element may be provided in order thatthe open ends face in the same direction. The slot in the firstconnecting lug and additional slot located at the same side end of thesecond element may be provided in order that the open ends face in thesame direction.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the slot is provided in thefirst connecting lug of the first element, and the slots provided in thefirst and second connecting lug located at the same side end of thefirst element may be provided in order that the open ends face inopposite directions but preferably towards each other. The slot may beprovided to extend into the panel adjacent to the first connecting lugof the second element and the said slot and the additional slot locatedat the same side end of the second element may be provided in order thatthe open ends face in opposite directions, but preferably away from eachother.

The first connecting lug of the first element is preferably located on aside end towards an operatively lower end defined by the panel; and thesecond connecting lug is located at the operatively upper end defined bythe panel.

The set may also include other panels which are attachable to each otheror to the building elements.

The set of elements may be suitable to build scaled down structures,such as housing structures and preferably toy castles. Some of thepanels in the set may include apertures therethrough defining doorand/or window openings.

The building elements may be made of any suitable sheet material such asa polymeric material, wood or a paper based material. Preferably thesheet material is rigid to the extent that it does not fold under itsown weight when held in an upright position.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided astructure formed by using the building elements described hereinabove.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided astructure formed by using at least one set of elements describedhereinabove.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is providedthe use of building elements or at least one set of elements describedhereinabove to build structures.

Without thereby limiting the scope of the invention and by means ofexample only, embodiments of the invention will now be further describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of two building elementsaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the two building elements ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a scaled down castle constructed fromplanar panels attached to each other with some of the panels comprisingbuilding elements according to the invention;

FIGS. 4 to 8 are exploded perspective views of parts of the castle ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of two building elementsaccording to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a partly assembled perspective view of the two buildingelements of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a fully assembled perspective view of the two buildingelements of FIG. 9.

In the accompanying drawings the same reference numerals are used todenote corresponding parts.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 a building element 10 comprises agenerally planar and rectangular panel 10.1 defining an operativelylower end 10.2, an operatively upper end 10.3 opposite to the lower end10.2 and two opposite straight side ends 10.4 and 10.5 extending betweenthe upper and lower ends 10.3 and 10.2 respectively. A first connectinglug 10.6 extends co-planarly to the panel 10.1 from the side end 10.5thereof, the first connecting lug 10.6 extending along a portion of thesaid side end 10.5. A slot 10.7 in the form of an elongate apertureextends partly into the first connecting lug 10.6 adjacent and parallelto the side end 10.5. The slot 10.7 is open at one end, which is theoperatively upper end 10.8 thereof.

The building element 11 is very similar to the building element 10 andalso comprises a generally planar and rectangular panel 11.1 defining anoperatively lower end 11.2, an operatively upper end 11.3 opposite tothe lower end 10.2 and two opposite straight side ends 11.4 and 11.5extending between the upper and lower ends 11.3 and 11.2 respectively.Two first connecting lugs 11.6 extend co-planarly to the panel 11.1 fromthe side ends 11.4 and 11.5, the first connecting lugs 11.6 extendingalong only a portion of each of the side ends 11.4 and 11.5. A slot 11.7in the form of an elongate aperture extends partly into the panel 11.1adjacent to each first connecting lug 11.6, the slots 11.7 extendingadjacent and parallel to the side ends 11.4 and 11.5 respectively. Eachslot 11.7 is open at one end which is the operatively lower end 11.8thereof.

The slots 11.7 extend in an opposite direction to the slot 10.7 sincethe open ends 11.8 and 10.8 face in opposite directions, therebyallowing the building elements 10 and 11 to be attached to each other bypositioning the panels 10.1 and 11.1 at right angles to each other andthen sliding the panel 11 from a position above the panel 10 and alongthe side ends 10.5 and 11.5 in order that the slots 11.7 and 10.7 slideover each other in order that they engage the elements 10 and 11respectively. The slots 11.7 and 10.7 are of such lengths to that theyallow the connecting lugs 11.6 and 11.7 to fully overlap to provide themat the same height when the elements 10 and 11 are attached to eachother as shown in FIG. 2.

The building elements 10 and 11 define a pair of inter-connectablebuilding elements.

The first connecting lug 10.6 is located at the lower end 10.2 of thepanel 10 and in use it gives the appearance of a buttress when theelements 10 and 11 are connected to each other.

The first connecting lug 10.6 is planar and wedged shaped widening awayfrom the panel 10.1 as the lug 10.6 extends towards the lower end 10.2of the panel 10.1. The first connecting lug 10.6 is triangularly shapedwith two sides of the triangle meeting each other at right angles andwith one of said sides extending along the side end 10.5 and the otherside extending in line with the lower end 10.2.

The first connecting lugs 11.6 are similarly positioned and shaped asthe first connecting lug 10.6.

The building elements 10 and 11 include slots 10.9 and 11.9 in theirrespective upper ends 10.3 and 11.3. These slots 10.9 and 11.9 areornamental in character to provide the appearance of shooting slotsprovided in castle walls.

The building elements 10 and 11 may be made of any suitable sheetmaterial such as for example press-board or a polymeric material.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown a scaled down castle 30constructed from an inter-connected set of elements and wherein some ofthe elements are building elements according to the invention therebyproviding buttress-shaped lugs 31 to the castle 30 which lugs 31contribute to the appearance of the castle 30. The other elements do notinclude lugs 31 but most of them include slots of similar nature asslots 10.7 and 11.7 allowing said elements to inter-engage each other orto inter-engage the building elements according to the invention.

The castle 30 includes four towers 32, 33, 34 and 35 and explodedperspective views of these towers are shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7. Thecastle 30 also defines inter-connecting walls and passageways 36 betweenthe above-mentioned towers which are shown in an exploded perspectiveconfiguration in FIG. 5.

The gate construction 37 of the castle 33 is shown in an explodedperspective configuration in FIG. 8.

The parts and the construction of the castle 30 is clearly shown inFIGS. 3 to 8 and no further description thereof is required.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 to 11 building elements 100 and 110 are similarto elements 10 and 11. In this case the panel 100 includes a firstconnecting lug 100.2 a side end 100.4. The operatively upper ends 100.5and 110.1 of the elements 100 and 110 are bevelled and the slots 100.6and 110.2 are wider than those of elements 10 and 11. The element 110also include window opening formations 110.3. The first connecting lug100.2 of the element 100 and the first connecting lugs 110.4 and 110.5are also generally triangularly shaped but are truncated at theiroperatively upper ends.

As shown in FIG. 9 the slot 100.7 in element 100 is not directly in linewith the side end 100.4 but slightly off-set to the operatively outsideof said side end 100.4 to extend into the lug 100.2 with the inside leg100.9 being directly in line with the side end 100.4. Similarly theslots 110.6 and 110.7 are not directly in line with the side ends 110.8and 110.9 respectively but slightly off-set to the operatively insidethereof to extend into the panel 110 in order that the outside legs110.10 and 110.11 are directly in line with the side ends 110.8 and110.9 respectively. This arrangement ensures that the side end 100.4 isin use received against the element 110 directly adjacent to the sideend 110.9 to form a neat junction.

The slots 10.7 and 11.7 in the elements 10 and 11 are made in a similarway as described above.

The major difference between elements 100 and 110 on the one side and 10and 11 on the other side is that second connecting lugs 100.10 and100.11 are provided on the element 100 and additional slots 110.12 and110.13 are provided in the element 110.

The second connecting lugs 100.10 and 100.11 extend co-planarly to theelement 100 from the side ends 100.4 and 100.3 respectively. The secondconnecting lugs 100.10 and 100.11 are provided at the operatively upperend 100.5 of the element 100 and the second connecting lug 100.10 isspaced apart from the first connecting lug 100.2 along the side end100.4. The second connecting lugs may be provided with configurations inuse to provide the appearance of a gargoyle.

The second connecting lug 100.10 includes a slot 100.12 therein in theform of an elongate aperture extending partly into the lug 100.10adjacent to the straight side end 100.4 and parallel thereto, the slot100.12 being open at the operatively lower end thereof, with the openend facing the open end of the slot 100.7. The closed end 100.13 of theslot 100.12 is slanted as shown. The second connecting lug 100.11 isgenerally similar to the lug 100.10 but the slot therein opens into theopposite direction as slot 100.12. In use additional panels (similar tothose shown in for example FIG. 4) received within the panels 100 and110 may be provided with suitable formations not shown! to engage thelug 100.11

The additional slots 110.12 and 110.13 are in line with the slots 110.6and 110.7 respectively. The one side 110.14 and 110.15 respectively ofslots 110.12 and 110.13 are slanted and shorter than the other side ofthe said slots to snugly engage slanted ends such as ends 100.13 in lug100.10.

In use the elements 100 and 110 are engaged to each other as shown inFIGS. 10 and 11 and the engagement provided by the additional slot110.13 and second connecting lug 100.10 provide additional stability tothe attachment.

The building elements can also be used in various combinations to buildother scaled down structures. Complex dwellings such as cathedrals,abbeys etc. may be formed but simple dwellings such as a serf's hut canalso be formed. The building elements may also be textured to improvethe appearance of the structure formed.

I claim:
 1. A set of elements suitable for building a scaled downstructure comprising:at least one first building element in the form ofa generally planar panel defining at least one substantially straightside end and an operatively lower end which extends substantially atright angles from the side end; a first connecting lug extendingco-planarly to the panel from the substantially straight side end, thefirst connecting lug extending along only a portion of saidsubstantially straight side end towards the operatively lower end; afirst slot at the first connecting lug, the first slot being in the formof an elongate aperture extending adjacent to the straight side end andparallel thereto, and the slot being open at one end thereof; a secondconnecting lug extending co-planarly to the panel from the substantiallystraight side end of the panel and spaced apart from the firstconnecting lug along the said side end, towards the operatively upperend; a second slot at the second connecting lug, the second slot beingin the form of an elongate aperture extending adjacent to the straightside end and parallel thereto, the second slot being open at one endthereof and the open ends of the first slot and second slot facing inopposite directions; and the set of elements further comprising at leastone second element comprising a generally planar panel defining at leastone substantially straight side end, an operatively lower end whichextends substantially at right angles from the side end; a thirdconnecting lug extending co-planarly to the panel from the substantiallystraight side end, the third connecting lug extending along only aportion of said straight side end towards the operatively lower end; afirst slot at the third connecting lug, the first slot being in the formof an elongate aperture extending adjacent to the straight side end andparallel thereto, and the slot being open at one end thereof, but theopen end facing in a direction opposite to the direction in which thefirst slot in the first building element faces to allow the said firstbuilding element to be attached to the said second element bypositioning said elements at right angles to each other and sliding theslots over each other in a direction along the straight side end of thefirst building element in order that the slots engage the elements; thesecond element including an additional slot in the form of an elongateaperture extending adjacent to the straight side end and parallelthereto, the additional slot being open at one end thereof and the endsof the first slot on the second element and additional slot facing inopposite directions; and the arrangement being such that when the panelsof the first and second elements are positioned at right angles to eachother the slot at the second connecting lug on the first element and theadditional slot in said second element are slid over each other in adirection along the straight side ends to engage the second connectinglug to the second element when said operative lower ends are co-planar.2. The set of claim 1, wherein the first slots in the first and secondelements are of such lengths that they allow the first connecting lug onthe first element and the third connecting lug on the second element tofully overlap to provide them at the same height when the elements arein use attached to each other.
 3. The set of claim 2, wherein the panelof each of the at least one first building element and the at least onesecond element is generally rectangluar, defining an operatively lowerend, an operatively upper end opposite to the lower end and two oppositeside ends extending between the upper and lower ends.
 4. The set ofclaim 1, wherein the first connecting lug of the first building elementand the third connecting lug of the second element are located at theoperatively lower ends defined by the panels; and the first connectinglug and the third connecting lug being provided with such aconfiguration that in use it gives the appearance of a buttress.
 5. Theset of claim 1, wherein the additional slot of the second element isprovided directly into the panel of the element.
 6. The set of claim 5,wherein the one side of the additional slot slants from thesubstantially straight side end of the panel into the panel and thesecond slot in the first panel defining a slanted bottom which in usematingly engages the slanted side of the additional slot.
 7. The set ofclaim 1, wherein the first slot is provided in the first connecting lugof the first element, and the second slot is provided in the secondconnecting lug located at the same side end of the first element,wherein the open ends of said slots face in opposite directions andtowards each other.
 8. The set of claim 7, wherein the first slot isprovided to extend into the panel adjacent to the third connecting lugof the second element and the said first slot and the additional slotlocated at the same side end of the second element are provided in orderthat the open ends face in opposite directions, and away from eachother.
 9. The set of claim 1, wherein the first connecting lug of thefirst element is located on a side end at the operatively lower enddefined by the panel; and the second connecting lug is located at anoperatively upper end defined by the panel.
 10. The set of claim 1,wherein the set is suitable for building scaled down housing structures.11. A scaled down structure built by using at least one set of elementsof any one of the preceding claims.
 12. The use of at least one set ofelements of any one of claims 1-10 to build scaled down structures.